Wallonia's 2024 list of critical functions and shortage occupations includes 162 professions, an increase on last year, according to a report issued on Wednesday by the Walloon Office for Vocational Training and Employment, Forem.
The agency stresses that 112 of these occupations are experiencing labour shortages.
Thirty-nine (39) occupations that were on the 2023 list have been removed, including architects, surveyors, scaffolding erectors, travel agents, movers and opticians.
However, 43 new professions have been added, such as bakery assistants, customer support advisors, tour guides and multimedia content creators, plus ICT business analysts in the new technology sector.
Construction remains the most represented sector with 44 of the 162 professions. However, industry, which has 35 professions on the list, demands the most labour, according to Forem.
The regional employment agency says its aim in gauging these stressed professions is to truly reflect the realities on the ground.
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From January to May, over 210,000 job offers - a 37% increase on the corresponding period of last year - were listed on Forem’s site, excluding offers from other public services.
Three in every 10 job listings relate to critical functions and shortage occupations. However, the agency notes that only a third of these offers are accompanied by an indefinite term contract in Wallonia.
Forem believes that listing critical functions and shortage occupations allows it to tailor its training offerings to businesses' needs.
Forem currently offers 377 courses, 209 of which are specifically tailored to stressed professions and mainly target the 42% of job seekers who do not hold a Higher Secondary Education Certificate (CESS).
The agency plans to double its ‘Emergency Shortage’ initiatives in 2024 to at least 50.
